Fashion is an elusive and fickle subject. When studying the history of costume, it is often easy to find material about Greek and Roman cultures, Elizabethan dress, and the Gibson Girl. It is more difficult, and far less objective, to trace the trends of modern dress. When choosing costumes for a contemporary play, it is often hard to find accurate resources and explanations for modern dress. In order for students to achieve a thorough knowledge of contemporary styles and trends, it is necessary for them to examine closely the fields of music and film (and their corresponding histories) and determine their influence on the clothing worn by people today.
The songs and movies of modern times have had a major influence on fashion. Coincidentally, many of these important fashion-influencing films of recent times had one thing in common: John Travolta. From the white leisure suits of Saturday Night Fever, to the hats and boots of Urban Cowboy, to the fifties retrospective of Grease, to the modern gangster of Pulp Fiction, Travolta’s changing image has taken with it the pulse of the American people. Due to the overwhelming popularity of these films and the songs comprising their soundtracks (and perhaps not so coincidentally, the appearance of John Travolta), the clothing associated with them became an important part of American contemporary costume history.
The songs and movies of modern times have had a major influence on fashion. Coincidentally, many of these important fashion-influencing films of recent times had one thing in common: John Travolta. From the white leisure suits of Saturday Night Fever, to the hats and boots of Urban Cowboy, to the fifties retrospective of Grease, to the modern gangster of Pulp Fiction, Travolta’s changing image has taken with it the pulse of the American people. Due to the overwhelming popularity of these films and the songs comprising their soundtracks (and perhaps not so coincidentally, the appearance of John Travolta), the clothing associated with them became an important part of American contemporary costume history.